Portable electronic device, and method for operating portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A mobile phone includes: a first housing having a first display part; a second housing having a second display part; acquisition means for obtaining image data and position information associated with the image data; position information acquisition section for obtaining current position information concerning a current position; a guide information acquisition section for generating a guide map showing a route from the current position to a spot that is indicated by the position information associated with the image data, based on the position information associated with the image data and the current position information; and a display control section for controlling display contents in the first display part and the second display part. The display control section causes the first display part to display the guide map and causes the second display part to display an image based on the image data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information service technology usinga portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, with computerization of map information, there is atechnique using position information concerning image data and mapinformation in association with each other.

For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a map retrieval device thatinputs image data including position information of a shooting spot,extracts map data including information of the shooting spot, andoutputs the map data to an image output device such as a display.

PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2002-202976

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the technique disclosed in the Patent Document 1, if animage is displayed on the display and in this state a map extracted inassociation with the image is displayed on the display, the image cannotbe viewed.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide atechnique that can improve the visibility of an image and a mapassociated with the image.

In the technique disclosed in the Patent Document 1, the image dataincluding the position information of the shooting spot is used asinformation for extracting the map data of a destination, but is noteffectively utilized in association with the map outputted.

Therefore, a secondary object of the present invention is to provide atechnique that allows image data including position information to beused in association with a map.

Means for Solving the Problems

A portable electronic device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention includes: a first housing including a first display part; asecond housing including a second display part; acquisition means forobtaining image data and position information associated with the imagedata; position information acquisition means for obtaining currentposition information concerning a current position; guide informationacquisition means for obtaining a guide map showing a route from thecurrent position to a spot that is indicated by the position informationassociated with the image data, based on the position informationassociated with the image data and the current position information; anddisplay control means for controlling display contents in the firstdisplay part and the second display part. The display control meanscauses the first display part to display the guide map and causes thesecond display part to display an image based on the image data.

A portable electronic device according to a second aspect of the presentinvention includes: a first housing including a first display part; asecond housing including a second display part; storage means forstoring image data and position information associated with the imagedata; map acquisition means for obtaining a map including apredetermined position; image search means for searching, from the imagedata, image data having associated therewith position information in apredetermined area including the predetermined position; and displaycontrol means for controlling display contents in the first display partand the second display part. The display control means causes the firstdisplay part to display the map and causes the second display part todisplay an image based on the image data obtained as a result of thesearching by the image search means.

Effects of the Invention

In the invention according to the first aspect, the visibility of animage and a map associated with the image can be improved.

In the invention according to the second aspect, image data includingposition information can be used in association with a map.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A configuration diagram of a communication system including aportable electronic device.

FIG. 2 A diagram showing a configuration of an external appearance of amobile phone.

FIG. 3 A diagram showing a configuration of the external appearance ofthe mobile phone.

FIG. 4 A block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mobilephone according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 A flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone in anavigation mode.

FIG. 6 A diagram showing a selection screen for an image selection.

FIG. 7 A diagram showing display changeability data stored in the formof a data table.

FIG. 8 A diagram showing a display manner of display parts of the mobilephone.

FIG. 9 A diagram showing a display manner of the display parts of themobile phone.

FIG. 10 A flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone in thenavigation mode.

FIG. 11 A diagram showing display manners of the display parts inaccordance with a sliding state of the mobile phone.

FIG. 12 A block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mobilephone according to third embodiment.

FIG. 13 A flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone in thenavigation mode.

FIG. 14 A flowchart showing an interchange operation for interchangingdisplay contents by an operation on a touch panel.

FIG. 15 A configuration diagram of a communication system including aportable electronic device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 A diagram showing a configuration of an external appearance of amobile phone.

FIG. 17 A diagram showing a configuration of the external appearance ofthe mobile phone.

FIG. 18 A block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mobilephone.

FIG. 19 A diagram showing a storage format in which image data withposition information attached is stored in a storage section.

FIG. 20 A flowchart showing an operation performed in obtaining theimage data with position information attached from a website.

FIG. 21 A flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone in thenavigation mode.

FIG. 22 A diagram showing a display manner of a first display part ofthe mobile phone.

FIG. 23 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

FIG. 24 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

FIG. 25 A flowchart showing an operation of a mobile phone in thenavigation mode according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 A diagram showing a display manner of the first display part ofthe mobile phone.

FIG. 27 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

FIG. 28 A flowchart showing an operation of a mobile phone in thenavigation mode according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 29 A diagram showing a display manner of the first display part ofthe mobile phone.

FIG. 30 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

FIG. 31 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

FIG. 32 A diagram showing a display manner of each display part of themobile phone.

EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

1. First Embodiment 1-1. Outline of Configuration

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system SY1including a portable electronic device 10 according to a firstembodiment. In this embodiment, a case where a mobile phone 1A isadopted as the portable electronic device 10 is shown as an example.FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing a configuration of an externalappearance of the mobile phone 1A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system SY1 includes the mobilephone 1A, a communication network 5, an Internet 7, a server apparatus6, and a satellite 8, and provides at the mobile phone 1A a service ofguiding a route from a current position to a destination on a map. Themobile phone 1A is connected, via the communication network (mobile unitcommunication network) 5, to the server apparatus 6 of the contentprovider side and the Internet 7. The mobile phone 1A is configured toreceive a GPS signal from the satellite 8 and identify the currentposition based on the GPS signal from the satellite 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1A has two housings 11 and 12. Thetwo housings 11 and 12 are coupled to each other by a mechanism that candisplace their relative positions between an open state (opened) and aclose state (closed). FIG. 2 shows the mobile phone 1A in the open statein which one housing (for example, the housing 12) is slidably movedrelative to the other housing (for example, the housing 11). FIG. 3shows the mobile phone 1A in the close state.

In the housings 11 and 12, display parts 15 and 16 such as a liquidcrystal display or an organic EL display are provided, respectively.This allows a user (operator) to visually observe the display parts 15and 16 provided in the housings 11 and 12 in the open state of themobile phone 1A. On the other hand, in the close state of the mobilephone 1A, the second display part 16 is hidden by the housing 11, andthus the user cannot visually observe the second display part 16.

1-2. Function of Mobile Phone 1A

Next, a functional configuration of the mobile phone 1A will bedescribed. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configurationof the mobile phone 1A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile phone 1A includes a GPS reception section101, a wireless transmission/reception section 102, an image pickupsection 103, a sound output section 104, a first display part 15, asecond display part 16, a touch panel 105 provided in the first displaypart 15, a touch panel 106 provided in the second display part 16, anoverall control section 110, and the like.

The GPS reception section 101 has a function of receiving the GPS signalfrom the satellite 8 via an antenna and transmitting the GPS signal tothe overall control section 110.

The wireless transmission/reception section 102 has a function of makingcommunication via an antenna with the server apparatus 6 and theInternet 7 connected to the communication network 5.

The image pickup section 103 is configured with an image pickup element(such as CCD or CMOS) that is a photoelectric conversion element, toobtain an image signal according to a subject image. The image signalgenerated by the image pickup element is subjected to A/D conversion,image processing, and the like, and then stored as a shooting image in,for example, the storage section 107.

The sound output section 104 has a function of converting sound datasupplied from the overall control section 110 into a sound andoutputting the resulting sound to the outside. For example, in anavigation mode (which will be described later), a sound for guiding aroute is outputted.

In display surfaces of the first display part 15 and the second displaypart 16, transparent type touch panels (also referred to simply as“touch panel”) 105 and 106 functioning as an operating part areprovided. The touch panels 105 and 106 can detect a touch position(contact position) touched by the user. Through the touch panels 105 and106, the user can input to the mobile phone 1A a command correspondingto a representation displayed on the display parts 15 and 16.

The overall control section 110 is configured as a microcomputer, andmainly includes a CPU 110A, a RAM 110B, a ROM 110C, and the like. Theoverall control section 110 reads out a program stored in the ROM 110Cand causes the CPU 110A to execute the program, thereby implementingvarious functions. In FIG. 4, a shooting control section 111, anoperation content recognition section 112, a display control section113, a state detection section 114, a position information acquisitionsection 115, and a guide information acquisition section (guide mapacquisition section) 116 are functions, expressed in the form offunction blocks, implemented by the execution of the program in theoverall control section 110.

The shooting control section 111 has a function of controlling ashooting operation using the image pickup section 103 in a shooting modefor shooting a subject.

The operation content recognition section 112 has a function ofrecognizing an operation content performed by the user based on thedisplay contents in the display parts 15 and 16 and the touch positionson the touch panels 105 and 106.

The display control section 113 controls the display contents in thedisplay parts 15 and 16. For example, the display control section 113causes each image saved in the storage section 107 to be displayed onthe display part 15 (or the display part 16) in an image display modefor displaying image data stored in the storage section 107.

The state detection section 114 detects a state of the mobile phone 1Ain accordance with a sliding state of the housings 11 and 12 that formthe mobile phone 1A. The state detection section 114 detects the openstate in which the two display parts 15 and 16 are visually observableand the close state in which the second display part 16 is not visuallyobservable.

The position information acquisition section 115 obtains information(also referred to as “current position information”) concerning acurrent position based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receptionsection 101.

The guide information acquisition section 116 is a function sectionimplemented by, for example, executing navigation software, and obtains,as guide information, a guide map indicating a route (guide route) fromthe current position (present location) to the destination. The guidemap may be obtained by being generated by the guide informationacquisition section 116 based on the information (destinationinformation) concerning the destination and the current positioninformation, or may be obtained from the outside of the mobile phone 1Aby the guide information acquisition section 116.

More specifically, in a case of internal generation of the guideinformation, the guide information acquisition section 116 identifies aguide route on the map data preliminarily stored in the storage section107 (or the ROM 110C) based on the destination information and thecurrent position information, and generates map data including the guideroute. The map data is not necessarily obtained from the storage section107, but may be obtained from the Internet 7. In a case of obtaining theguide information from the outside, the guide information acquisitionsection 116 transfers the destination information and the currentposition information to the server apparatus 6, and obtains a guide mapincluding a guide route by downloading it from the server apparatus 6.

1-3. Operation

In the following, an operation of the mobile phone 1A will be described.

In the mobile phone 1A, the user can activate the navigation mode, theshooting mode, the image display mode, and the like, by a selectionoperation using the touch panels 105 and 106, for example. Here, adescription will be given of an operation of the mobile phone 1A in acase where the navigation mode for making a guide to the destination isactivated. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the mobilephone 1A in the navigation mode. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a selectionscreen for an image selection. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing displaychangeability data stored in the form of a data table. FIGS. 8 and 9 arediagrams showing display manners of the display parts 15 and 16 of themobile phone 1A.

In the navigation mode for making a guide to the destination, thedestination information is inputted to the mobile phone 1A, and theguide map to the destination is displayed. The input of the destinationinformation is achieved by, for example, a direct input of an address ofthe destination to the mobile phone 1A, or designation of thedestination on the map. In this embodiment, the destination informationis inputted by the user designating image data including positioninformation (also referred to as “associated position information”)associated therewith. That is, here, a case of displaying a guide map toa destination that is a spot indicated by the position informationassociated with the image data is shown as an example.

The image data including associated position information is, forexample, an image file according to the Exif format which is generatedby a digital still camera. The image file is generated by associating ashooting image with additional information (also referred to as “Exifinformation”) such as a shooting spot, time and date of shooting, andshooting conditions at a time when shooting is performed by the digitalstill camera. The associated position information may includeinformation concerning the shooting spot at which the shooting wasperformed, or may include information concerning a position where thesubject existed. It is also assumed that the information concerning theshooting spot and the information concerning the position where thesubject existed are added by the user after the shooting.

In a specific operation of the mobile phone 1A, referring to FIG. 5,firstly, in step SP11, the display control section 113 displays an imageon the first display part 15. As an image display manner, for example, adisplay manner as shown in FIG. 6 is adoptable in which a plurality ofreduced images are arrayed on a screen of the first display part 15.

The image displayed in the first display part 15 in step SP11 may be animage preliminarily stored in the storage section 107, or may be animage obtained in real time from the outside (such as the Internet 7)via the communication network 5. The image preliminarily stored in thestorage section 107 may be an image shot with the mobile phone 1A by theuser, or may be an image obtained from the outside via the communicationnetwork 5 by the user. That is, image data acquisition means provided inthe mobile phone 1A includes shooting means implemented by the imagepickup section 103 and the shooting control section 111, and dataacquisition means implemented by communication with the outside usingthe wireless transmission/reception section 102.

In step SP12, whether or not an image (also referred to as “image withposition information”) including associated position information isselected from displayed images by a touch operation (tap) on the displaysurface is determined. If the image with position information is notselected, it means that no destination information is inputted, andtherefore the process moves to step SP14 without performing an operationfor guiding to the destination, and a normal process such as an imagedisplay is performed based on the image selection. On the other hand, ifthe image with position information is selected by the touch operation,the operation process moves to step SP13.

In step SP13, whether or not the display content in the second displaypart 16 is changeable is determined. The determination (displaychangeability determination) of whether or not the display is changeablecan be made based on display changeability data HD stored in the ROM110C. The display changeability data HD may be stored, for example, inthe form of a data table as shown in FIG. 7. The display changeabilitydata HD shown in FIG. 7 is set such that in a case where informationconcerning application software AP1, AP3, AP4, and AP6 is displayed inthe second display part 16, the display is “changeable”, while in a casewhere information concerning application software AP2 and AP5 isdisplayed in the second display part 16, the display is “unchangeable”.

If it is determined in this step SP13 that the display of the seconddisplay part 16 is unchangeable, the normal process of step SP14 isperformed without performing the operation for guiding to thedestination. On the other hand, if it is determined that the display ofthe second display part 16 is changeable, the operation process moves tostep SP15.

In step SP15, the display control section 113 changes the displaycontent of the second display part 16, to display the selected image(selected image) on the second display part 16. As shown in FIG. 8, ifan image SG6 is selected as the selected image, the image SG6 isenlarged and displayed on the second display part 16.

In step SP16, the destination information is obtained from the selectedimage. To be specific, the position information associated with theimage data of the selected image is obtained as the destinationinformation.

In step SP17, the position information acquisition section 115 obtainsthe current position information.

In step SP18, the guide information acquisition section 116 obtains themap data, and in step SP19, the guide information acquisition section116 identifies a guide route to the destination (here, the spotindicated by the associated position information) on the map data, andmap data including the guide route is generated.

Then, in step SP20, the display control section 113 displays the mapincluding the guide route on the first display part 15. To be specific,as shown in FIG. 9, a map MA including a guide route KR from a presentlocation CP to a destination MP (the spot obtained from the associatedposition information of the image SG6) is displayed on the first displaypart 15.

In next step SP21, whether or not the navigation mode is continued isdetermined, and if the navigation mode is not continued, the operationof the mobile phone 1A in the navigation mode is terminated. If thenavigation mode is continued, the operation process moves to step SP17.That is, while the navigation mode is continued, the mobile phone 1Arepeatedly performs step SP17 to step SP21.

As described above, the map MA including the guide route KR from thepresent location CP to the destination MP is displayed on the firstdisplay part 15 while the image SG6 obtained by shooting at thedestination is displayed on the second display part 16. This enables theuser to visually observe the image and the map associated with the imageat one time, thus improving the visibility.

Additionally, in the mobile phone 1A having the first display part 15and the second display part 16 that can be visually observed at onetime, the map and the image can be separately displayed on differentscreens. Therefore, the visibility of the map and the image can befurther improved.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Although the firstembodiment is based on the assumption that the mobile phone 1A is alwaysin the open state, in the second embodiment, a display control on seconddisplay part 16 is performed in accordance with the sliding state of amobile phone 1B.

The mobile phone 1B according to the second embodiment has substantiallythe same structure and function (see FIGS. 1 to 4) as those of themobile phone 1A, and thus the common parts will be denoted by the samecorresponding reference numerals, without descriptions thereof.

An operation of the mobile phone 1B will be described with reference toFIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone1B in the navigation mode. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing display mannersof the display parts in accordance with the sliding state of the mobilephone 1B.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the mobile phone 1B, in step SP31, the displaycontrol section 113 (see FIG. 4) displays images on the first displaypart 15.

In step SP32, whether or not an image including associated positioninformation is selected from the displayed images by a touch operationon the display surface is determined. If the image with positioninformation is not selected, it means that no destination information isinputted, and therefore the process moves to step SP33 withoutperforming the operation for guiding to the destination, and the normalprocess such as the image display is performed based on the imageselection. On the other hand, if the image with position information isselected by the touch operation, the operation process moves to stepSP34.

In step SP34, the position information associated with the image data ofthe selected image is obtained as the destination information.

In step SP35, the state detection section 114 detects a state inaccordance with the sliding state of the mobile phone 1B. If it isdetermined in step SP35 that the state is not the open state (the stateis the close state), the operation process skips step SP36 and moves tostep SP37. If it is determined that the state is the close state, thedisplay on the second display part 16 is automatically turned off.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP35 that the state isthe open state, the operation process moves to step SP36.

In step SP36, the display control section 113 enlarges and displays theselected image on the second display part 16.

In step SP37, the position information acquisition section 115 obtainsthe current position information.

In step SP38, the guide information acquisition section 116 obtains themap data, and in step SP39, the guide information acquisition section116 identifies a guide route to the destination on the map data, andgenerates map data including the guide route.

Then, in step SP40, the display control section 113 displays the mapincluding the guide route on the first display part 15.

In next step SP41, whether or not the navigation mode is continued isdetermined, and if the navigation mode is not continued, the operationof the mobile phone 1B in the navigation mode is terminated. If thenavigation mode is continued, the operation process moves to step SP35.That is, while the navigation mode is continued, the mobile phone 1Brepeatedly performs step SP35 to step SP41.

As described above, in the mobile phone 1B, the selected image isdisplayed on the second display part 16 in response to the detection ofthe open state. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, in a close stateST1, the map MA including the guide route KR is displayed on the firstdisplay part 15, and in an open state ST2, the guide map MA is displayedon the first display part 15 while the selected image SG6 is displayedon the second display part 16. This enables the user to visually observethe map and the image at one time in the open state, thus enhancingconvenience.

3. Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, thedestination information is inputted by designating the image dataincluding associated position information. In the third embodiment, onthe other hand, the destination information is inputted by the userinputting a destination address or the user designating a destination onthe map. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a functional configurationof a mobile phone 1C according to the third embodiment.

The mobile phone 1C according to the third embodiment has substantiallythe same structure and substantially the same functions (see FIGS. 1 to4) as those of the mobile phone 1A, and thus the common parts will bedenoted by the same corresponding reference numerals, withoutdescriptions thereof.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the overall control section 110 of the mobilephone 1C, an image search section 117 is additionally implemented.

The image search section 117 has a function of, based on inputteddestination information, searching image data associated with positioninformation around a destination from image data including associatedposition information stored in the storage section 107. An image searcharea may be an area preliminarily set by the user, and for example, anarea in a predetermined range centered on the destination may beadopted.

An operation of the mobile phone 1C will be described. FIG. 13 is aflowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone 1C in the navigationmode.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the mobile phone 1C, in step SP51, whether ornot destination information is inputted to the mobile phone 1C isdetermined. If the destination information is inputted, the processmoves to step SP52, and if it is not inputted, a standby state occurs.The input of the destination is performed by, for example, inputting anaddress of a destination location or designating a destination on a map.

In step SP52, the position information acquisition section 115 obtainsthe current position information.

In step SP53, the guide information acquisition section 116 obtains themap data, and in step SP54, the guide information acquisition section116 identifies a guide route to the inputted destination on the mapdata, and generates map data including the guide route.

Then, in step SP55, the display control section 113 displays the mapincluding the guide route on the first display part 15.

In next step SP56, the state detection section 114 detects a state inaccordance with the sliding state of the mobile phone 1C. If it isdetermined in step SP56 that the state is not the open state (the stateis the close state), the operation process moves to step SP60.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP56 that the state isthe open state, the operation process moves to step SP57.

In step SP57, the image search section 117 searches an image (alsoreferred to as “surrounding image”) including associated positioninformation around the destination, from the images stored in thestorage section 107. The searching of the surrounding image is performedbased on whether or not the search area includes a spot that isidentified by the associated position information included in the imagedata. In this embodiment, the searching of the image around thedestination is performed after the open state is detected, but it may beperformed before the open state is detected (prior to step SP56).

In step SP58, whether or not the surrounding image is found (extracted)in the image data stored in the storage section 107 is determined. Ifthe surrounding image is not found, the operation process moves to stepSP60. On the other hand, if the surrounding image is found, theoperation process moves to step SP59.

In step SP59, the display control section 113 displays the surroundingimage on the second display part 16.

In next step SP60, whether or not the navigation mode is continued isdetermined, and if the navigation mode is not continued, the operationof the mobile phone 1C in the navigation mode is terminated. If thenavigation mode is continued, the operation process moves to step SP52.That is, while the navigation mode is continued, the mobile phone 1Crepeatedly performs step SP52 to step SP60.

As described above, in the mobile phone 1C, the user inputs thedestination information concerning the destination, and the mapincluding the guide route from the present location to the inputteddestination is displayed on the first display part 15. Then, thesurrounding image including associated position information around thedestination is searched and, if a case of the open state, thesurrounding image is displayed on the second display part 16. Thisenables the user to visually observe the map and the image around thedestination at one time in the open state, thus enhancing convenience.

4. Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

[4-1. Outline of Configuration]

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a communication system SY2including a portable electronic device 1010 according to a fourthembodiment. In this embodiment, a case where a mobile phone 1001A isadopted as the portable electronic device 1010 is shown as an example.FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing a configuration of an externalappearance of the mobile phone 1001A.

As shown in FIG. 15, the communication system SY2 includes the mobilephone 1001A, a communication network 1005, an Internet 1007, a serverapparatus 1006, and a satellite 1008, and provides at the mobile phone1001A various services using a map. The mobile phone 1001A is connected,via the communication network (mobile unit communication network) 1005,to the server apparatus 1006 of the content provider side and theInternet 1007. The mobile phone 1001A is configured to receive a GPSsignal from the satellite 1008, and identify the current position basedon the GPS signal from the satellite 1008.

As shown in FIG. 16, the mobile phone 1001A has two housings 1011 and1012. The two housings 1011 and 1012 are coupled to each other by amechanism that can displace their relative positions between an openstate (opened) and a close state (closed). FIG. 16 shows the mobilephone 1001A in the open state in which one housing (for example, thehousing 1012) is slidably moved relative to the other housing (forexample, the housing 1011). FIG. 17 shows the mobile phone 1001A in theclose state.

In the housings 1011 and 1012, display parts 1015 and 1016 such as aliquid crystal display or an organic EL display are provided,respectively. This allows a user (operator) to visually observe thedisplay parts 1015 and 1016 provided in the housings 1011 and 1012 inthe open state of the mobile phone 1001A. On the other hand, in theclose state of the mobile phone 1001A, the second display part 1016 ishidden by the housing 1011, and thus the user cannot visually observethe second display part 1016.

[4-2. Function of Mobile Phone 1001A]

Next, a functional configuration of the mobile phone 1001A will bedescribed. FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional configurationof the mobile phone 1001A. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a storage formatin which image data with position information attached is stored in astorage section.

As shown in FIG. 18, the mobile phone 1001A includes a GPS receptionsection 1101, a wireless transmission/reception section 1102, an imagepickup section 1103, a sound output section 1104, a first display part1015, a second display part 1016, a touch panel 1105 provided in thefirst display part 1015, a touch panel 1106 provided in the seconddisplay part 1016, an overall control section 1110, and the like.

The GPS reception section 1101 has a function of receiving the GPSsignal from the satellite 1008 via an antenna and transmitting the GPSsignal to the overall control section 1110.

The wireless transmission/reception section 1102 has a function ofmaking communication via an antenna with the server apparatus 1006 andthe Internet 1007 connected to the communication network 1005.

The image pickup section 1103 is configured with an image pickup element(such as CCD or CMOS) that is a photoelectric conversion element, toobtain an image signal according to a subject image. The image signalgenerated by the image pickup element is subjected to A/D conversion,image processing, and the like, and then stored as a shooting image in,for example, the storage section 1107.

The sound output section 1104 has a function of converting sound datasupplied from the overall control section 1110 into a sound andoutputting the resulting sound to the outside.

In display surfaces of the first display part 1015 and the seconddisplay part 1016, transparent type touch panels (also referred tosimply as “touch panel”) 1105 and 1106 functioning as an operating partare provided. The touch panels 1105 and 1106 can detect a touch position(contact position) touched by the user. Through the touch panels 1015and 1016, the user can input to the mobile phone 1001A a commandcorresponding to a representation displayed on the display parts 1015and 1016.

The overall control section 1110 is configured as a microcomputer, andmainly includes a CPU 1110A, a RAM 1110B, a ROM 1110C, and the like. Theoverall control section 1110 reads out a program stored in the ROM 1110Cand causes the CPU 1110A to execute the program, thereby implementingvarious functions. In FIG. 18, a shooting control section 1111, anoperation content recognition section 1112, a display control section1113, a state detection section 1114, a position information acquisitionsection 1115, a map acquisition section (map generation section) 1116,and an image search section 1117 are functions, expressed in the form offunction blocks, implemented by the execution of the program in theoverall control section 1110.

The shooting control section 111 has a function of controlling ashooting operation using the image pickup section 1103 in a shootingmode for shooting a subject.

The operation content recognition section 1112 has a function ofrecognizing an operation content performed by the user based on thedisplay contents in the display parts 1015 and 1016 and the touchpositions on the touch panels 1105 and 1106.

The display control section 1113 controls the display contents in thedisplay parts 1015 and 1016. For example, the display control section1113 causes each image saved in the storage section 1107 to be displayedon the display part 1015 (or the display part 1016) in an image displaymode for displaying image data stored in the storage section 1107.

The state detection section 1114 detects a state of the mobile phone1001A in accordance with a sliding state of the housings 1011 and 1012that form the mobile phone 1001A. The state detection section 1114detects the open state in which the two display parts 1015 and 1016 arevisually observable and the close state in which one display part 1015is visually observable.

The position information acquisition section 1115 obtains information(also referred to as “current position information”) concerning acurrent position based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receptionsection 1101.

The map acquisition section 1116 is a function section implemented by,for example, executing navigation software, and obtains a map includinga predetermined spot on the map. The map acquisition section 1116 alsohas a function of obtaining (generating) a map (guide map) to whichguide information in the predetermined spot is added. In thisembodiment, a case where the current position obtained by the positioninformation acquisition section 1115 is set as the predetermined spot onthe map is shown as an example.

The image search section 1117 has a function of searching image dataincluding position information in a predetermined area (also referred toas “search area” or “search range”) on the map, from the image data,stored in the storage section 1107, including position information (alsoreferred to as “associated position information”) associated therewith.To be specific, image search section 1117 sets, on the map, a searcharea to be searched, based on the current position information obtainedby the position information acquisition section 1115 and a searchdistance that is preliminarily set. Then, based on the search area thusset and the position information associated with the image data, theimage search section 1117 extracts image data including positioninformation that indicates a spot within the search area, from the imagedata stored in the storage section 1107.

The image data (also referred to as “image data with positioninformation attached”) including associated position information is, forexample, a image file according to the Exif format which is generated bya digital still camera. The image file is generated by associating ashooting image with additional information (also referred to as “Exifinformation”) such as a shooting spot, time and date of shooting, andshooting conditions at a time when shooting is performed by the digitalstill camera. The associated position information may includeinformation concerning the shooting spot at which the shooting wasperformed, or may include information concerning a position where thesubject existed. It is also assumed that the information concerning theshooting spot and the information concerning the position where thesubject existed are added to image data by the user after the shooting.

The image data stored in the storage section 1107 may be image dataobtained by the user performing shooting with the mobile phone 1001A. Inthis case, the image data may be stored in the storage section 1107 inthe form of a data table by associating the image data with theassociated position information as shown in FIG. 19. Storing in the formof a data table in this manner can improve the speed of searching theimage data.

Alternatively, the image data stored in the storage section 1107 may bean image obtained by the user from an external website via thecommunication network 1005. In a case of obtaining the image data withposition information attached from a website, the image data withposition information attached is stored in the storage section 1107through the steps shown in FIG. 20 which will be described next. FIG. 20is a flowchart showing an operation performed in obtaining the imagedata with position information attached from a website.

More specifically, a browser is launched and image data on the websiteis displayed on the display part (for example, the first display part1015), and in this state, if an image with position information isselected by an operation on the touch panel (step SP1011), the operationprocess moves to step SP1012.

In step SP1012, the selected image with position information (selectedimage) is stored in the storage section 1107.

In next step SP1013, whether or not the launch of the browser iscontinued is determined, and if the launch of the browser is notcontinued, processing for storing the image data from the website isterminated. On the other hand, if the launch of the browser iscontinued, the operation process moves to step SP1011. That is, whilethe launch of the browser is continued, step SP1011 to step SP1013 arerepeatedly performed, to continuously obtain the image data withposition information attached from the website is continuouslyperformed.

When the image data with position information attached is stored in thestorage section 1107 in step SP1012, the image data with positioninformation attached may be stored as it is, or alternatively theposition information may be extracted and stored in the form of a datatable as shown in FIG. 19.

[4-3. Operation]

In the following, an operation of the mobile phone 1001A will bedescribed.

In the mobile phone 1001A, the user can activate the navigation mode,the shooting mode, the image display mode, and the like, by a selectionoperation using the touch panels 1105 and 1106, for example. Here, adescription will be given of an operation of the mobile phone 1001A in acase where the navigation mode for displaying a map is activated. FIG.21 is a flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone 1001A in thenavigation mode. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a display manner of thefirst display part 1015 of the mobile phone 1001A. FIGS. 23 and 24 arediagrams showing display manners of the display parts 1015 and 1016 ofthe mobile phone 1001A.

As shown in FIG. 21, in the mobile phone 1001A, in step SP1021, whetheror not the navigation mode is in execution is determined. If thenavigation mode is in execution, the operation process moves to stepSP1022, and if the navigation mode is not in execution, the operation ofthe mobile phone 1001A in the navigation mode is terminated.

In step SP1022, the position information acquisition section 1115obtains the current position information.

In step SP1023, the image search section 1117 sets a search area. Thesearch area is set on a map displayed on the first display part 1015,based on the search distance that is preliminarily set and the currentposition information. Here, an area enclosed by a circle having thecenter thereof located at the current position and the radius thereofequal to the search distance is set as the search area on the map.

In step SP1024, the image search section 1117 searches image data (alsoreferred to as “neighborhood image” or “surrounding image”) associatedwith position information in the search area, from the image data storedin the storage section 1107. The searching of the neighborhood image isperformed based on whether or not the search area includes a spot thatis identified by the associated position information included in theimage data. The image data extracted as a result of suchneighborhood-image search processing, is used as guide information atthe current position.

In step SP1025, whether or not the neighborhood image is found(extracted) in the image data stored in the storage section 1107 isdetermined. If the neighborhood image is not found, the operationprocess moves to step SP1021. On the other hand, if the neighborhoodimage is found, the operation process moves to step SP1026.

In step SP1026, the map acquisition section 1116 adds informationindicating that the neighborhood image is found to the map data, andobtains a guide map.

Then, in step SP1027, the display control section 1113 displays theguide map on the first display part 1015. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 22, the first display part 1015 displays a map MA101 that includesa display CP10 indicating the current position and a display (alsoreferred to as “notice display”) NH101 indicating that the neighborhoodimage is found. In FIG. 22, an icon representing an indication of aposition of the found neighborhood image is used as the notice displayNH101. In this manner, in the guide map, the spot indicated by theassociated position information associated with the image dataconcerning the neighborhood image is presented on the map.

In next step SP1028, the state detection section 1114 determines whetheror not the mobile phone 1001A is in the open state. If it is determinedthat the mobile phone 1001A is not in the open state, the operationprocess moves to step SP1021. If it is determined that the mobile phone1001A is in the open state, the operation process moves to step SP1029.

In step SP1029, the display control section 1113 causes the neighborhoodimage obtained by the searching to be displayed on the second displaypart 1016. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 23, a neighborhood imageKG101 is displayed on the second display part 1016. Thus, the mobilephone 1001A is controlled such that the neighborhood image KG101 isdisplayed on the second display part 1016 in response to the detectionof the open state. Therefore, the user can visually observe theneighborhood image KG101 by changing from the close state to the openstate. The display manner of the second display part 1016 is not limitedto the one shown in FIG. 23. In addition to the neighborhood imageKG101, accompanying information HF10 concerning a subject of theneighborhood image KG101 may further be displayed, as shown in FIG. 24.

After step SP1029 is completed, the operation process moves to stepSP1021.

As described above, in the mobile phone 1001A, image data includingassociated position information near the current position is searchedfrom the image data, stored in the storage section 1107, includingassociated position information, and if there is the image dataincluding associated position information near the current position, animage based on the image data including associated position informationnear the current position is displayed on the second display part 1016.This allows the image data including associated position information tobe used in association with the map, which can enhance the convenienceof the user.

Furthermore, the guide map showing the spot that is indicated by theassociated position information associated with the image data obtainedby the searching is obtained, and the guide map is displayed on thefirst display part 1015. This allows the image data including associatedposition information to be further used in association with the map.

In general, it is highly possible that the image data stored in thestorage section 1107 represents an image the user is previously orcurrently interest in. Thus, image data including associated positioninformation relatively close to the current position is searched fromsuch image data, and an image obtained by the searching is notified tothe user. This can prevent the user from missing a chance of visit to aplace of the user's interest or a place of the user's preference.

In the mobile phone 1001A having the first display part 1015 and thesecond display part 1016 that are visually observable at one time, themap and the image can be separately displayed in different screens.Therefore, the visibility of the map and the image can be improved.

5. Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment,the image of the vicinity of the current position obtained by theposition information acquisition section 1115 is obtained as the guideinformation. In the fifth embodiment, on the other hand, an image of thevicinity of a spot (also referred to as “designated spot” or “designatedlocation”) that is designated on a map by the user is obtained as theguide information.

A mobile phone 1001B according to the fifth embodiment has substantiallythe same structure and substantially the same functions (see FIGS. 15 to18) as those of the mobile phone 1001A, and thus the common parts willbe denoted by the same corresponding reference numerals, withoutdescriptions thereof.

An operation of the mobile phone 1001B will be described. FIG. 25 is aflowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone 1001B in thenavigation mode. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a display manner of thefirst display part 1015 of the mobile phone 1001B. FIG. 27 is a diagramshowing display manners of the display parts 1015 and 1016 of the mobilephone 1001B.

As shown in FIG. 25, in the mobile phone 1001B, in step SP1051, whetheror not the navigation mode is in execution is determined. If thenavigation mode is in execution, the operation process moves to stepSP1052, and if the navigation mode is not in execution, the operation ofthe mobile phone 1001B in the navigation mode is terminated.

In step SP1052, whether or not the user designates a position on thefirst display part 1015 displaying a map is determined. The designationof a position is performed by a touch operation on the display surfaceof the first display part 1015. The operation content recognitionsection 1112 identifies the designated spot on the map based on the mapdisplayed on the first display part 1015 and a touch position detectedby the touch panel 1105.

In step SP1053, the image search section 1117 sets a search area. Thesearch area is set based on a search distance that is preliminarily setand the designated spot. For example, in a case where the searchdistance is set to be 100 meters, an area defined by a circle having thecenter thereof located at the designated spot and the radius thereofequal to 100 meters is set as the search area on the map.

In step SP1054, the image search section 1117 searches image data (alsoreferred to as “surrounding image”) associated with position informationwithin the search area, from the image data stored in the storagesection 1107. The searching of the surrounding image is performed basedon whether or not the search area includes a spot that is identified bythe associated position information included in the image data. Theimage data extracted as a result of such surrounding-image searchprocessing, is used as guide information at the designated spot.

In step SP1055, whether or not the surrounding image is found(extracted) in the image data stored in the storage section 1107 isdetermined. If the surrounding image is not found, the operation processmoves to step SP1051. On the other hand, if the neighborhood image isfound, the operation process moves to step SP1056.

In step SP1056, the map acquisition section 1116 adds informationindicating that the surrounding image is found to the map data, andobtains a guide map.

Then, in step SP1057, the display control section 1113 displays theguide map on the first display part 1015. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 26, the first display part 1015 displays a map NH102 that includesa display TP10 indicating the designated spot and a display (noticedisplay) NH102 indicating that a surrounding image of the designatedspot TP10 is found. In FIG. 26, an icon representing an indication of aposition of the found surrounding image is used as the notice displayNH102.

In next step SP1058, the state detection section 1114 determines whetheror not the mobile phone 1001B is in the open state. If it is determinedthat the mobile phone 1001B is not in the open state, the operationprocess moves to step SP1051. If it is determined that the mobile phone1001B is in the open state, the operation process moves to step SP1059.

In step SP1059, the display control section 1113 causes the surroundingimage obtained by the searching to be displayed on the second displaypart 1016. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, a surrounding imageKG102 is displayed on the second display part 1016.

After step SP1059 is completed, the operation process moves to stepSP1051.

As described above, in the mobile phone 1001B, image data includingassociated position information of the vicinity of the designatedlocation designated by the user is searched from the image data storedin the storage section 1107, and if there is the image data includingassociated position information of the vicinity of the designatedlocation, an image based on the image data including associated positioninformation of the vicinity of the designated location is displayed onthe second display part 1016. This allows the image data includingassociated position information to be used in association with the map,which can enhance the convenience of the user.

Furthermore, the guide map showing the spot that is indicated by theassociated position information associated with the image data obtainedby the searching is obtained, and the guide map is displayed on thefirst display part 1015. This allows the image data including associatedposition information to be further used in association with the map.Additionally, since the user can obtain information concerning a desiredplace prior to moving, and therefore can easily plan to visit a place ofthe user's interest or a place of the user's preference prior to moving.

6. Sixth Embodiment

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In a mobile phone 1001Caccording to the sixth embodiment, a guide route to a destination isdisplayed on a map, and additionally the guide route is changed by aselection of a surrounding image.

The mobile phone 1001C according to the sixth embodiment hassubstantially the same structure and substantially the same functions(see FIGS. 15 to 18) as those of the mobile phone 1001A, and thus thecommon parts will be denoted by the same corresponding referencenumerals, without descriptions thereof.

An operation of the mobile phone 1001C will be described. FIG. 28 is aflowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone 1001C in thenavigation mode. FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a display manner of thefirst display part 1015 of the mobile phone 1001C. FIG. 30 is a diagramshowing display manners of the display parts 1015 and 1016 of the mobilephone 1001C.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the mobile phone 1001C, in step SP1081, whetheror not the navigation mode is in execution is determined. If thenavigation mode is in execution, the operation process moves to stepSP1082, and if the navigation mode is not in execution, the operation ofthe mobile phone 1001C in the navigation mode is terminated.

In step SP1082, whether or not destination information concerning adestination is inputted by the user is determined. If the destinationinformation is not inputted, the operation process moves to step SP1081and the operation of step SP1081 is performed again. If the destinationinformation is inputted, the operation process moves to step SP1083.

In step SP1083, the position information acquisition section 1115obtains the current position information.

In step SP1084, the image search section 1117 sets a search area. Thesearch area is set on a map displayed on the first display part 1015,based on the search distance that is preliminarily set and the currentposition information. Here, an area enclosed by a circle having thecenter thereof located at the current position and the radius thereofequal to the search distance is set as the search area on the map.

In step SP1085, the image search section 1117 searches image data (alsoreferred to as “neighborhood image” or “surrounding image”) associatedwith position information in the search area, from the image data storedin the storage section 1107. The searching of the neighborhood image isperformed based on whether or not the search area includes a spot thatis identified by the associated position information included in theimage data. The image data extracted as a result of suchneighborhood-image search processing, is used as guide information atthe current position.

In step SP1086, whether or not the neighborhood image is found(extracted) in the image data stored in the storage section 1107 isdetermined. If the neighborhood image is not found, the operationprocess moves to step SP1081. On the other hand, if the neighborhoodimage is found, the operation process moves to step SP1087.

In step SP1087, the map acquisition section 1116 adds, to the map data,information indicating that the neighborhood image is found and a route(guide route) KR10 to the destination, and obtains a guide map.

Then, in step SP1088, the display control section 1113 displays theguide map on the first display part 1015. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 29, the first display part 1015 displays a map MA103 that includesthe current position CP10, a display (notice display) NH103 indicatingthat a neighborhood image is found, and the route KR10 to a destinationMP10. In FIG. 29, an icon representing an indication of a spot indicatedby the associated position information of the found neighborhood imageis used as the notice display NH103.

In step SP1089, the operation content recognition section 1112determines whether or not the neighborhood image displayed on the firstdisplay part 1015 is selected by the user. The selection of theneighborhood image is achieved by, for example, touching the noticedisplay NH103. If it is determined that the neighborhood image is notselected, the operation process moves to step SP1092. If it isdetermined that the neighborhood image is selected, the operationprocess moves to step SP1090.

In step SP1090, the map acquisition section 1116 changes the guide map.More specifically, the guide route is changed so as to head for thedestination via the spot that is indicated by the associated positioninformation included in the selected neighborhood image.

In step SP1091, the display control section 1113 displays a changedguide map on the first display part 1015. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 30, the first display part 1015 displays a map MA104 that includesa route KS10 to the destination MP10 via a spot KP10 indicated by thenotice display NH103 of FIG. 29.

In next step SP1092, the state detection section 1114 determines whetheror not the mobile phone 1001C is in the open state. If it is determinedthat the mobile phone 1001C is not in the open state, the operationprocess moves to step SP1081. If it is determined that the mobile phone1001C is in the open state, the operation process moves to step SP1093.

In step SP1093, the display control section 1113 causes the neighborhoodimage obtained by the searching to be displayed on the second displaypart 1016. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 30, the neighborhoodimage KG101 is displayed on the second display part 1016.

After step SP1093 is completed, the operation process moves to stepSP1081.

As described above, in the mobile phone 1001C, if the neighborhood imagedisplayed on the guide map is selected, the route to the destination ischanged based on the associated position information of the selectedneighborhood image, and the changed route is displayed on the firstdisplay part 1015. This can further enhance the convenience of the user.

7. Modification

While some embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, the present invention is not limited to the above-described ones.

For example, although in the first, second, and third embodiments, thefirst display part 15 displays the map including the guide route whilethe second display part 16 displays the image obtained by shooting atthe destination, this is not limitative.

To be specific, it is possible that the first display part 15 displaysthe image obtained by shooting at the destination while the seconddisplay part 16 displays the map including the guide route.

It is also possible that the display content in the first display part15 and the display content in the second display part 16 areinterchanged in accordance with a predetermined operation beingperformed on the touch panel. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing aninterchange operation for interchanging display contents by an operationon the touch panel.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, if a contact with the touchpanel is detected, then in step SP71, the operation content recognitionsection 112 determines whether or not the operation performed on thetouch panel is a downward sweeping operation (also referred to as“flick”) for sweeping down on the first display part 15. To be specific,in the open state in which the first display part 15 and the seconddisplay part 16 are arranged together, whether or not the sweepingoperation performed on the touch panel 105 provided in the first displaypart 15 is an operation directed from the first display part 15 to thesecond display part 16 is determined. If it is the downward sweepingoperation, the operation process moves to step SP73. If it is not thedownward sweeping operation, the operation process moves to step SP72.

In step SP72, the operation content recognition section 112 determineswhether or not the operation performed on the touch panel is an upwardsweeping operation (and in more detail, directed from the second displaypart 16 to the first display part 15) for sweeping up on the seconddisplay part 16. If it is the upward sweeping operation, the operationprocess moves to step SP72. If it is not the upward sweeping operation,the operation process moves to step SP76, and a normal touch-paneldetection process is performed.

In step SP73, a display content determination is performed of whether ornot the first display part 15 displays an image while the second displaypart 16 displays a map. In the display content determination of stepSP73, if it is determined that determination conditions are satisfied,the operation process moves to step SP75. In the display contentdetermination of step SP73, if it is determined that the determinationconditions are not satisfied, the operation process moves to step SP74.

In step SP74, a display content determination is performed of whether ornot the first display part 15 displays a map while the second displaypart 16 displays an image. In the display content determination of stepSP74, if it is determined that determination conditions are satisfied,the operation process moves to step SP75. In the display contentdetermination of step SP74, if it is determined that the determinationconditions are not satisfied, the operation process moves to step SP76,and the normal touch-panel detection process is performed.

In the display content determination of step SP73 or step SP74, if thedetermination conditions are satisfied, then in step SP75, the displaycontrol section 113 performs an interchange process for interchangingthe display contents.

In this manner, the display content in the first display part 15 and thedisplay content in the second display part 16 are interchanged inaccordance with a user's command. This can further enhance theconvenience of the user.

Although in the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, the first displaypart 1015 displays a map while the second display part 1016 displays animage, this is not limitative.

To be specific, it is possible that the display contents in the displayparts are interchanged so that the first display part 1015 displays animage while the second display part 1016 displays a map.

Although the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments show the example inwhich the map is not displayed prior to searching the surrounding image,this is not limitative. To be specific, prior to searching thesurrounding image, in other words, prior to displaying the guide map, anormal map (without the guide information added thereto) to which theguide information is not added may be displayed on the first displaypart 1015.

Although the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments show the example inwhich the image data obtained from the website is stored in the storagesection 1107 in the form of a data table, this is not limitative. To bespecific, the image data with position information attached may be savedas a file in a storage area different from the storage section 1107 witha file path being stored in the storage section 1107.

In the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, at a time of obtaining theimage data with position information attached from the website, an imageselected by the operation on the touch panel is stored in the storagesection 1107. However, this is not limitative. At a time when the imagewith position information attached is displayed in the browser, imagedata concerning the displayed image may be stored in the storage section1107.

At a time of storing the image data with position information attachedin the storage section 1107, the image may be resized to compress thevolume of the image data. This can save an area in the storage section1107 used for storing the image data with position information attached.

Although in the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, the surroundingimage is searched from the image data with position information attachedthat are stored in the storage section 1107, this is not limitative.

More specifically, the surrounding image may be searched by using apredetermined server apparatus that can search image data based on theposition information associated with the image data. In this case,position information concerning a current position or a designated spotis inputted to the predetermined server apparatus via the communicationnetwork 1005, and the predetermined server apparatus searches thesurrounding image. The mobile phone obtains via the communicationnetwork 1005 a result of the searching performed by the predeterminedserver apparatus, and displays the search result on the first displaypart 1015.

In the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiment, if a surrounding image isfound by the searching of the surrounding image, the fact that thesurrounding image is found is notified to the user through a display onthe map. However, this is not limitative.

More specifically, if the surrounding image is found, the fact that thesurrounding image is found may be notified to the user by making thedisplay parts 1015 and 1016 blink. The interval of blinking of thedisplay parts 1015 and 1016 may be changed in accordance with thedistance between the current position and the spot that is indicated bythe associated position information of the surrounding image. The factthat the surrounding image is found may be notified to the user byoutputting a sound from the sound output section 1104.

In the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiment, if a surrounding image isfound as a result of the searching of the surrounding image, the factthat the surrounding image is found is notified to the user bydisplaying an icon on the map. Instead, the size and/or the degree oftransparence of an icon displayed on the map may be changed inaccordance with the distance between the current position (in the fifthembodiment, the designated location) and the spot that is indicated bythe associated position information of the surrounding image.

Although the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiment show the example inwhich one surrounding image is found as a result of the searching of thesurrounding image, this is not limitative. A plurality of surroundingimages may be found as a result of the searching of the surroundingimage. FIGS. 31 and 32 are diagrams showing display manners of thedisplay parts 1015 and 1016 of a mobile phone according to amodification.

For example, if a plurality of surrounding images are found in stepSP1024 of the fourth embodiment, the first display part 1015 displays aguide map MA110 including a display NHW10 indicating that the pluralityof surrounding image are found and displays HQ101 to HQ105 indicatingassociated position information of the respective surrounding images, asshown in FIG. 31. In this case, while in the open state, the seconddisplay part 1016 displays a list GR10 of the plurality of foundsurrounding images.

Additionally, if one surrounding image is selected from the plurality ofsurrounding images, the second display part 1016 displays a selectedsurrounding image KG101 while the first display part 1015 displays onlythe display HQ102 indicating the associated position information of theselected surrounding image with the displays concerning the othersurrounding images being deleted, as shown in FIG. 32.

In the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiment, in a case where asurrounding image is searched in the close state, the first display part1015 displays a guide map reflecting a search result, and if the openstate is established, the surrounding image is displayed. However, otheroperation manners are acceptable. To be specific, in a case where asurrounding image is searched in the open state, the second display part1016 may display the surrounding image obtained as a result of thesearching without displaying a guide map reflecting a search result, andif the displayed surrounding image is selected, the map reflecting thesearch result may be displayed.

Although in the fourth embodiment, the neighborhood image is searchedwhile the navigation mode is in execution, this is not limitative. Thesearching of the neighborhood image may be performed as long as theposition information acquisition section 1115 can obtain the currentposition information. If the neighborhood image is found, the firstdisplay part 1015 (or the second display part 1016) may display theneighborhood image. Whether or not a search operation for searching theneighborhood image while the navigation mode is not in execution may bedetermined in accordance with an application run on the mobile phone1001A.

In the fourth embodiment, the search area on the map set for searchingimage data from the storage section 1107 is set based on the searchdistance that is preliminarily set. However, this is not limitative, andthe search area may be changed in accordance with a speed of movement ofthe user.

To be specific, the amount of movement of the user per unit time iscalculated based on the current position information obtained by theposition information acquisition section 1115, and the speed of movementof the user is identified. In a case where the speed of movement of theuser is relatively low, for example, in a case where it is assumed thatthe user is moving on foot, the search distance is set to be short (forexample, 500 m). In a case where the speed of movement of the user isrelatively high, for example, in a case where it is assumed that theuser is moving by car, the search distance is set to be long (forexample, 2 km).

In this manner, the search distance is set in accordance with the speedof movement of the user, and the search area is accordingly changed.This enables searching of image data including associated positioninformation concerning a user-movable area, and therefore informationservice in accordance with transportation means the user is using can beoffered.

While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It isunderstood that numerous other modifications and variations notillustrated herein can be devised without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1A, 1B, 1001A, 1001B, 1001C mobile phone    -   10, 1010 portable electronic device    -   11, 12, 1011, 1012 housing    -   15, 1015 first display part    -   16, 1016 second display part    -   105, 106, 1105, 1106 touch panel    -   107, 1107 storage section    -   111, 1111 shooting control section    -   112, 1112 operation content recognition section    -   113, 1113 display control section    -   114, 1114 state detection section    -   115, 1115 position information acquisition section    -   116 guide information acquisition section    -   1116 map acquisition section    -   1117 image search section    -   KR guide route    -   MA guide map    -   MP destination    -   ST1 close state    -   ST2 open state

1. A portable electronic device comprising: a first housing including afirst display part; a second housing including a second display part;acquisition section for obtaining image data and position informationassociated with said image data; position information acquisitionsection for obtaining current position information concerning a currentposition; guide information acquisition section for obtaining a guidemap showing a route from said current position to a spot that isindicated by said position information associated with said image data,based on said position information associated with said image data andsaid current position information; and display control section forcontrolling display contents in said first display part and said seconddisplay part, wherein said display control section causes said firstdisplay part to display said guide map and causes said second displaypart to display an image based on said image data.
 2. The portableelectronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a mechanismfor coupling said first housing and said second housing to each other insuch a manner that said first housing and said second housing aredisplaceable between a first state in which said second display part isvisually observable and a second state in which said second display partis not visually observable; and state detection section for detectingsaid first state and said second state, wherein said display controlsection causes said first display part to display said guide map, and ina case where said state detection section detects said first state,causes said second display part to display an image based on said imagedata.
 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, furthercomprising a first touch panel provided on a display surface of saidfirst display part, wherein said display control section interchangesthe display content in said first display part and the display contentin said second display part in accordance with a predetermined operationbeing performed on said first touch panel.
 4. The portable electronicdevice according to claim 2, further comprising a second touch panelprovided on a display surface of said second display part, wherein saiddisplay control section interchanges the display content in said firstdisplay part and the display content in said second display part inaccordance with a predetermined operation being performed on said secondtouch panel.
 5. A portable electronic device comprising: a first housingincluding a first display part; a second housing including a seconddisplay part; storage section for storing image data and positioninformation associated with said image data; map acquisition section forobtaining a map including a predetermined position; image search sectionfor searching, from said image data, image data having associatedtherewith position information in a predetermined area including saidpredetermined position; and display control section for controllingdisplay contents in said first display part and said second displaypart, wherein said display control section causes said first displaypart to display said map and causes said second display part to displayan image based on the image data obtained as a result of the searchingby said image search means.
 6. The portable electronic device accordingto claim 5, further comprising: a mechanism for coupling said firsthousing and said second housing to each other in such a manner that saidfirst housing and said second housing are displaceable between a firststate in which said second display part is visually observable and asecond state in which said second display part is not visuallyobservable; state detection section for detecting said first state andsaid second state; and position information acquisition section forobtaining current position information concerning a current position,wherein said predetermined position is a destination inputted, said mapacquisition section obtains a guide map showing a route from saidcurrent position to said destination, based on destination informationconcerning said destination and said current position information, saiddisplay control section causes said first display part to display saidguide map, and in a case where said state detection section detects saidfirst state, causes said second display part to display an image basedon the image data obtained as a result of the searching by said imagesearch section.
 7. The portable electronic device according to claim 6,further comprising a first touch panel provided on a display surface ofsaid first display part, wherein said display control sectioninterchanges the display content in said first display part and thedisplay content in said second display part in accordance with apredetermined operation being performed on said first touch panel. 8.The portable electronic device according to claim 6, further comprisinga second touch panel provided on a display surface of said seconddisplay part, wherein said display control section interchanges thedisplay content in said first display part and the display content insaid second display part in accordance with a predetermined operationbeing performed on said second touch panel.
 9. The portable electronicdevice according to claim 5, further comprising position informationacquisition section for obtaining a current position, wherein saidpredetermined position is the current position obtained by said positioninformation acquisition section.
 10. The portable electronic deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein said map acquisition section obtains aguide map showing a spot that is indicated by the position informationof the image data obtained as a result of the searching by said imagesearch section, said display control section causes said first displaypart to display said guide map as said map.
 11. The portable electronicdevice according to claim 10, further comprising: a mechanism forcoupling said first housing and said second housing to each other insuch a manner that said first housing and said second housing aredisplaceable between a first state in which said second display part isvisually observable and a second state in which said second display partis not visually observable; and state detection section for detectingsaid first state and said second state, wherein said display controlsection causes said first display part to display said guide map, and ina case where said state detection section detects said first state,causes said second display part to display an image based on the imagedata obtained as a result of the searching by said image search section.12. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, furthercomprising identification section for identifying, on a map displayed onsaid first display part, a designated location designated by a user,wherein said predetermined position is the designated locationidentified by said identification section.
 13. The portable electronicdevice according to claim 12, wherein said map acquisition sectionobtains a guide map showing a spot that is indicated by the positioninformation of the image data obtained as a result of the searching bysaid image search section, said display control section causes saidfirst display part to display said guide map as said map.
 14. Theportable electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising: amechanism for coupling said first housing and said second housing toeach other in such a manner that said first housing and said secondhousing are displaceable between a first state in which said seconddisplay part is visually observable and a second state in which saidsecond display part is not visually observable; and state detectionsection for detecting said first state and said second state, whereinsaid display control section causes said first display part to displaysaid guide map, and in a case where said state detection section detectssaid first state, causes said second display part to display an imagebased on the image data obtained as a result of the searching by saidimage search section.
 15. The portable electronic device according toclaim 14, wherein said first display part includes a touch panel on adisplay surface thereof, said identification section identifies saiddesignated spot based on a user contact position detected by said touchpanel.